Mode of protecting gilding on glass



AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

P. V. MATHEVVS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MODE 0F PROTECTING GILDING- ON GLASS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,078, dated April 2'?, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it kno-wn that I, PETER V. MATHEws, of Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new andImproved Mode of Securing Gilding on Glass from the Effects of Frost,Steam, Water, and the Suns Rays; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference markedthereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the application of tin-foil, orother thinly laminated or rolled metal, as a backing for the gildedletters, figures, &c., which are now generally applied on the inner sideof the panes of glass in the windows, transoms and doors of stores,offices, hotels, &c., in cities and elsewhere, so as to protect andpreserve the said letters, figures, 8:0., from being damaged-either bythe suns rays, steam, frost, or the soap and water commonly used incleansing the said glass- Without obstructing thereby the transmissionof light through the surrounding parts of the glass.

It is common in our large cities to have gilded letters, figures, &c.,applied on the inner surfaces of the panes of glass of the windows,transoms and doors of stores, ho tels, offices, 85o., but as they haveheretofore been backed simply with paint, varnish or other likesubstances, they are exceedingly liable to injury, and even to entiredcstruction when in contact with moisture and either heat or freezingcold; or when exposed to the direct rays of the sun; and especially whensubjected to contact with the soap and water commonly used in cleansingthe side of the glass upon which they are applied. Many of theseornamental signs are beautifully executed and costly, therefore anyeffectual mode of preserving them from such injury or destructionwithout thereby obstruct-ing the rays of light, which must be permittedto pass in and out through the surrounding glass, is a matter of greatutility and importance.

To enable others, skilled in the art of gilding upon glass, to use orpractice my invention, I will proceed to describe the manner or mode inwhich I apply the laminated metal to the backs of the said letters,figures, &c.

In the accompanying drawings, l repre- 3, the metal backing.

sents the pane of glass; 2, the gilding; and Having applied or fixed thegilding-or gold or silver leaf-directly on the surface of the glass inthe usual well known manner, I proceed to cover the same with a thincoat of any strong resinous adhesive Huid substance, and then upon this,after it has become tacky, or before it has become dried, I apply intheir proper order of arrangement, the letters or figures, &c.,previously out out in the desired form from the sheets of tin-foil, orother similar thinly laminated or rolled metal, and press them rlnly andsmoothly against the gilded glass. I now carefully remove all theresinous adhesive substance and gilding which may be around or outsideof the edges of the said letters or figures, and the work is completed.

I sometimes practice another mode of applying the metal-backing when thelet-ters or figures are of large size. This mode consists in applyingthe resinous, adhesive, fluid substance directly to one side of thetinfoil or metallic-backing letters or figures, and letting them liehorizontally until the said adhesive coating has become suiiciently set,or tacky, not to flow when the letter or figure is turned up into avertical position, and then applying them in the required order directlyupon the dry gilding on the glass, subsequently washing ofi", withwater, the superfluous gilding left around the same. In either case thegilding and adhesive substance form such thin strata between the backingand the glass, that the former is brought by the pressure used inapplying it, almost in actual Contact with the latter around theboundary edges of the letters or figures, and therefore, after theadhesive substance has become dry and hard, there is scarcely apossibility of any moisture getting access to the gilding, or anywherebetween the gilding and the backingand thus it is secured against injuryfrom freezing-cold; and the metallic backing, closely covering everypart of the back of the gilding and also the adhesive substance, thesoap and water used in washing the glass, or even steam itself, cannotcome in contact with them; nor will the direct rays of the sun producethe cracking to which the gilding is liable, from its action, whenbacked only with paint or varnish as heretofore. The gilding is alsosecurely protected by this metallic backing against -be- CII ingscratched or defaced by rubbing or tapping the backing with the finger.Almost any of the oily resinous varnishes, or goldsize will answer thepurpose of securing the metallic backing in the manner described.

I am aware that block letters, block numeral figures, &c., have beenmade --in detached frames of metal, Wood, or composition and thatstained glass has been fitted into the said frames; or gold or silverleaf, tin-foil, or other coloring Inatter has been inclosed behindglass, or other transparent substance in the said frame, With cement soas to make it impervious to air or moisture. I am also aware thatletters or figures for door and other plates have been made by insertinga transparent plate of glass, With the letters or figures thereon,Within a frame or case, and backing the Whole of the said glass plate,so lettered or figured, With an opaque metallic plate or leaf as abackground for displaying or exhibiting the said letters or figures butneither of these devices embrace my invention; nor are they applicableto the purpose of protecting the gilding required to be on the panes ofglass of Windows and doors of stores, oiiices, hotels, &c., asdescribed, because in such cases all the parts of the glass not coveredby the said letters or gures themselves must be left free andunobstructed for the transmission of the rays of light from both sidesof the Window. I therefore do not claim anything described in suchdevices; nor confine my claim to the use of any particular kind ofadhesive substance, or sizing for causing either the gilding or themetallic-backing to adhere to the glass, or to each other, as described;but

l/ Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis- The use of'tin-foi'l, or other thinly laminated or rolled metal, asa backing for the gilded letters, figures, &c., Which are generallyrequired on the inner surfaces of the panes of glass of Windows,transoms, and doors of stores,poffices, hotels, &c., for the purpose ofsecuring and protecting the said letters, figures, &c., from beingdamaged as described, and Without obstructing the free passage of therays of light through the immediately surrounding parts of the glassfrom either side of the same, as described.

P. V. MATHEWS.

Vitnesses:

RUFUs R. THOMAS, JOHN THOMPSON.

